HART Outdoors Extended First Aid Kit Review

Bottom line

If you’re looking for a well-stocked kit for backcountry adventures, there’s plenty to love about the HART Outdoors Extended first aid kit, including numerous organizational pockets, a first-aid manual, and an impressive array of supplies. But one of our favorite features is the removable day hike kit.  

Inside the larger kit, we were pleased to find a second pocket-sized kit that contained just the essentials required for an easy day hike. In our view, that makes this the perfect do-it-all kit not just for backpacking, but for shorter hikes close to home and multi-day trips that involve day hikes from base camp. This way, we can leave the large kit with our tents and still have a quick grab-and-go first aid solution for shorter excursions.

It’s an excellent kit for those who want to be prepared for everything and/or are hiking with a group. Check out our guide to the best first aid kits for more options.

And for more info, check out some of our other popular gear guides:

How We Tested

While testing, we utilized the HART Outdoors Extended kit on extended hikes, brief backpacking excursions, and snowshoe outings across Northern Utah. We evaluated it in various conditions, including snow, rain, and sunshine, dedicating several hours to assessing the kit and its contents both on and off the trail.

Portability

While the HART Outdoors Extended wasn’t the largest kit we tested, it comes close. In fact, it was almost too large for a snowshoe hike in the mountains of Utah when our packs were stuffed with extra layers, snacks, and warm beverages.

We could clip it to the outside of our bags, but it did bounce around. That said, the kit isn’t designed for short hikes with small packs; it’s intended for use in the backcountry. When sharing gear and supplies among a group of hikers with larger packs, we could easily make room.

Organization

This kit includes six labeled organizational pockets, extra sleeves, and a removable day trip kit. All pockets are clearly labeled, several are see-through, which allows us to easily find what we need, and many large, bulky, or trauma supplies are secured in a spacious middle section, making everything easy to see at a glance.

Thanks to this organization, we were able to locate several commonly used items in a short amount of time, considering the kit’s size.

We also appreciated having a list of items included printed on the back of the case, enabling us to easily assess what was missing and needed restocking.

Quantity & Variety

The HART Outdoors Extended kit not only offers the largest variety of individual items but also the most products from recommended packing lists produced by NOLS and The American Hiking Society. It includes a total of 42 items, encompassing medication, all essential necessities, plus several extras such as aloe vera, an empty specimen container, and a pencil for incident reports, not to mention a small first aid manual.

The pocket-sized tri-fold day hike kit within the larger kit contains items like adhesive bandages, moleskin, and other commonly used wound care supplies, as well as topical treatments and medications. The larger kit includes everything else, such as nitrile gloves, gauze, an irrigation syringe, and even triangular bandages and a wire splint. It’s the only kit that features those last two items.

Additionally, there were scissors, tweezers, a wrap, medical tape, gauze, and wound dressings. Overall, it provides ample supplies to instill confidence for heading into the backcountry with several friends or family members. There was also some space to include personal medications or additional supplies.

Quality & Durability

When testing durability, we noticed no wear and tear on the outer packaging when we shoved it into a bag with sharp or abrasive objects. While it wasn’t the most durable outer material we tested, we didn’t hesitate to toss it in a pack or trunk with other gear. 

The kit isn’t waterproof, similar to most other options we tested. When we exposed it to steady rain, some items inside became damp, suggesting that anything not in protective packaging, like bandages, moleskin, or manuals, could be ruined if left in the rain for an extended period. That said, placing it in a gallon-sized zip-top bag or a lightweight dry sack would protect the kit and its contents.

Should You Buy the HART Outdoors Extended?

The HART Outdoors Extended first aid kit is designed for backcountry travel. Couples or groups of up to six who regularly plan week-long excursions will likely find it the perfect kit, especially since little, if anything, needs to be added to flesh out the supplies list. Indeed, we found it offered plenty of confidence and peace of mind for deep backcountry travel.

On the other hand, those who tend to stick to shorter weekend trips or day hikes and individuals who usually hike alone or with smaller groups may find the kit excessive. Indeed, it may not be worth the size and weight for easy hikes or adventures where a trailhead is never more than a couple of hours’ hike from camp.

While it’s not the most affordable kit we tested, for the variety of supplies and impressive organization, we think it offers excellent value, especially compared to kits with similar items included.

What Other First Aid Kits Should You Consider?

We’ve tested plenty of first aid kits for hiking, so if the HART Outdoors Extended isn’t the right fit there are plenty of other options.

My Medic MyFAK Mini Review: This kit may be larger and heavier, but it includes a similar variety of supplies in a system that is equally well organized. It provides more carrying options in a more robust package.

Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Backpacker Review:  For a smaller kit better suited for weekend trips or backpacking duos, this option still offers a robust variety of individual supplies, making it an excellent choice for shorter backcountry excursions.

HART Outdoors Weekend Review: This kit is smaller and more compact yet still contains a sufficient number of first aid supplies, maintaining the same impressive level of organization, making it ideal for shorter trips and/or fewer people.